Community perceptions about Covid-19 and its socio-economic effects in Rwanda

Abstract

The covid-19 crisis is global but its socio-economic effects cannot be globally scrutinized. It is deeply local and huge. The research aimed at finding out and assessing community perceptions about Covid-19 and its socio-economic effects in Rwanda. It would inspire policymakers to renovate measures and policies that would help in rehabilitating all sectors in general and more affected groups in particular. From 30 districts of Rwanda, 510 respondents have been sampled through convenience and judgmental techniques. Findings revealed that people misinterpret the pandemic which lowers their level of compliance to Covid-19 preventive measures. Stay home orders were not a fruitful time for families whereby 84% of respondents were victims of domestic and sexual violence. However, with 16%, it was a good time for family cohesion. Isolation and social values frustration, family disorganization and dysfunctional, depression, and anxiety are major social effects of Covid-19. Loss of jobs, decreased salaries, none compliance with preventive measures fines, incapacity to pay bank loans, inability to satisfy family basic needs, government extra investment in medical health care have enormously affected the Rwandan economy. Thus, there is a need of strengthening sensitization of covid-19 spread, preventive measures, short and long-term consequences associated with it. This would shift the population from their wrong perceptions of covid-19 and increase the rate of compliance to established measures so as to free Rwanda from the pandemic and return to a normal life situation.